W.B. Cole's Trial Next Phase in Murder of Bill Ormond, Aug. 18, 1925

Cole’s Trial Next Phase. . . He Will Go on Trial at the October Term of Court for the Killing of W.W. Ormond. . . Ormond Buried at Rockingham. . . Funeral Largest Ever Held in That City—Leading Lawyers Engaged in the Case

Rockingham, Aug. 18 (AP)—Tributes paid to Wm. Ormond, young man of Raleigh who was shot and killed here as the aftermath of a love affair that was defied, citizens of Rockingham turned their eyes today toward the October term of Superior Court when W.B. Cole, wealthy mill executive, is scheduled to go on trial on a charge of murder in connection with the slaying.

Counsel for the defense already includes several leading attorneys of North Carolina. Conferences were held by them with the defendant, at which it was apparently decided not to press for the release of Cole under bail. The Solicitor will be assisted by private counsel.

Complete denial that the North Carolina Department of the American Legion will employ counsel to aid in the prosecution as reported, was given last night by Wade H. Phillips of Lexington, state commander, in a telegram last night to the Associated Press. He stated at the same time, however, that the Rockingham Post was free to take any action it might desire independent of the state organization.

Burial services for Ormond here yesterday afternoon were attended by what is said to have been the largest number of citizens ever seen at the funeral of a private citizen in Richmond county. Business houses closed during the services. Friends and relatives of the deceased packed the Methodist Church where the services were conducted.

Comrades at arms of Ormond bore the casket, covered with the national colors from the church. More than 300 automobiles joined in the procession to the cemetery.

The romance which existed between Ormond and Elizabeth Cole, 24-year-old daughter of the manufacturer, as well as Cole’s objection to the match, were matters of general knowledge here for several months. Only after the shooting last Saturday did it become widely known, however, that a series of letters had passed between Cole and Ormond. Threatening statements are alleged to have been made in those communications.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Tuesday, August 18, 1925

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1925-08-18/ed-1/seq-1/